Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be saved in various forms. One way to store it is in the form of chemical energy in a battery. When connected in a circuit, energy stored in the battery is released to produce electricity.

If you look at a battery, it will have two ends: a positive terminal and a negative terminal. If you connect the two terminals with wire, a circuit is formed. Electrons will flow through the wire and a current of electricity is produced.

Energy can also be stored in many other ways. Batteries, gasoline, natural gas, food, water towers, a wound up alarm clock, a Thermos flask with hot water and even pooh are all stores of energy. They can be transferred into other kinds of energy.

Energy Transfer

In this diagram, we shall look at a bigger picture of how energy is transferred from one object to another, and from one state to the other. Take a close look and read the notes below:

B: River, streams and waterfalls moving downstream are all a source or water energy (HydroPower). They are a store of kinetic energy by their movement downstream. Waterfalls also have gravitational energy.

C: Thermal and light energy from the sun is stored in plants as chemical and potential energy. When humans eat (plants) the stored energy is transferred to us. We use this energy to do work.

D: Heat energy from the sun is transferred to water bodies. This warms the water up. The result is stored thermal energy. The warm water heats the air over it. Warm air rises, so the air is now set into motion. The moving air now has kinetic energy.

E: Kinetic energy in the moving air is a source of energy called Wind Energy. Wind can turn the blades and generate electrical energy, which we use in our homes.

F: Energy from the sun is captured as Solar energy by cells and panels on top of our roofs. Solar energy is then transferred into electrical energy, which we use to warm our homes and turn the TV and computers on.

Energy Dissipation

Take a look at this simple illustration of a snooker table...

Using the snooker cue means you are transferring kinetic energy from the cue to the ball, which already has potential energy. As the ball moves, notice that its kinetic energy released decreases, as it comes to a stop.

When you slide a snooker ball on the board (table) it moves quickly, and then slowly, and gradually comes to a stop. This means that the kinetic energy (moving) of the ball decreases and eventually to zero when the balls come to rest.
With zero external force on the pool table, the energy of the ball must be conserved. Then, what happened to the kinetic energy? Kinetic energy has been dissipated through friction.